Let's try it again.
How about that?
Does that make a difference?
There we go.
Oh, this is fun.
Normally I do this behind closed doors, but y'all get to see it all.
That's okay.
There's no secrets.
Okay.
Here we go.
Is that better?
All right.
So we're talking about a definition of what it means to be a disciple.
Let's see if this thing is working yet.
Yes.
Hey, we're all there.
Okay.
I like this one.
It was not original to me, but I found it and I found about 45 of them and I really like
this one.
So I wanted to share this with y'all.
A disciple is someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and is committed to
the mission of Jesus.
How about that?
I think that's pretty good.
It's someone who is following Jesus.
I say it that way because different than was following Jesus, or maybe wants to be following
Jesus, or thinks following Jesus is a good idea.
But an actual disciple is someone who is following Jesus.
Jesus is being changed by Jesus.
And is committed to the mission of Jesus.
Jesus is being changed by Jesus.
So, if we keep that definition of what it is to be a disciple in our minds, then let's
look at our text.
Luke chapter 9.
Would you mind standing with me as we read it together?
And then you can be seated as we go on a recap of the previous weeks.
Let's read Luke chapter 9 and verse 23 together.
I'm reading from the New Living Translation.
Then he said to them all, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take
up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it.
But whoever loses his life because of me will save it.
For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world and yet loses or forfeits himself?
Let's take one more look at verse 23.
Then he said to them all, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take
up his cross daily, and follow me.
Would you be seated?
God, I pray that you would speak to us deeply from this verse.
We've been breaking it down.
We've been diving into it, taking a deep look at this verse, at your definition of what it
looks like to follow you.
I pray that you would let it take strong, deep roots within us.
Change us into a church of Jesus followers.
We'll give you the glory for it.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
By way of review, three weeks ago, we looked at this first part of the verse that we highlighted
just a moment ago.
If anyone wants to follow after me, and we talked about the Jesus way.
Our choir sang that powerful song, I choose the Jesus way.
Well, that's a wonderful thing to choose.
It's a wonderful thing to say and to sing.
But what does it mean?
Well, we accepted the challenge.
If we commit to the Jesus way, then we can watch God transform us from the inside out
into becoming his disciple.
Then we moved on just a couple of weeks ago into the next part of the verse.
Jesus said, if anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself and then take up his
cross daily.
And so what does it mean to live in denial the Jesus way?
And our takeaway that Sunday was denying myself starts on the inside as God transforms me again
from the inside out into becoming his disciple.
Man, our man focus is so often from the outside in, right?
As long as we've got the outside looking good, we're not so much worried about what's going
on on the inside.
But Jesus is completely the opposite.
You start on the inside.
He challenges us that the inside is so often rotten.
And then he will change what's on the outside starting from within.
And then we moved on last Sunday as we observed the Lord's Supper into taking up our cross.
We read the final commandment here to take up his cross daily right before he reminded us
to follow him.
So what does it look like to take up his cross daily?
There was a cost involved, wasn't there?
And so what is the daily cost?
Our takeaway last Sunday, following Jesus means daily following him to the cross.
It was a one-way journey to the cross that would result in death.
There was a daily death to ourselves, to our ambitions, to our goals, to our preferences,
to our desires, and embracing the life of Christ, dying to ourselves and embracing his life.
So we're on to the last part now.
Follow me.
Before we get there, I want to take a little pivot, a little about face, and take you somewhere unexpected.
Does anybody know who these guys are?
I know he does.
Austin, why don't you come up here and tell everybody real loud.
I mean, you've got to use your outside voice.
Why don't you come up here and tell everybody who they are?
Seriously, you've got to use your outside voice.
Tell them who they are.
Dude, perfect.
Everybody hear that?
For the people in the back?
Dude, perfect.
There you go.
All right.
Dude, perfect.
Yep, that's who they are.
Now, I am a fan of dude, perfect.
Do you know why I'm a fan of dude, perfect?
Anybody want to take a guess?
Just take a guess.
They're not perfect.
Trust me, they're not perfect.
Because they're funny.
That's actually not why I'm a fan of dude, perfect.
Christian.
I like that.
Athletes.
Yes.
We're hitting all around it.
Yes, because they're unique.
Disciples.
That's good.
Do you think I would care at all about them if my kids, that's it.
Because my kids like them.
That's why.
They were not even on my radar until my kids started watching them.
Well, then, obviously, I'm going to check them out.
You know, what are these guys about?
Well, I found out they are very bold Christians.
I mean, they don't hide their faith at all.
And they produce clean content.
Absolute clean content.
And I really am very grateful for that.
Because it's really hard to find clean content that you can just let your kids watch and not worry about what they're watching.
So, that's why I'm a fan of Dude Perfect.
It's really nice to have that in today's world.
So, I'm a fan.
My kids are more than fans.
They're followers of Dude Perfect.
Right?
I took Austin.
We drove up to Oklahoma City.
And we attended one of their shows.
Because he is a follower of Dude Perfect.
They clicked the follow button on YouTube.
And they, if anything else is going on, they're playing with toys.
Or they're playing in the backyard.
Or they're, you know, doing something else.
And all of a sudden, they hear that there's a new Dude Perfect video on YouTube.
Everything else stops.
And they're going to run over and watch the new Dude Perfect video on YouTube.
Whatever it is.
And it's usually some death-defying stunt or something ridiculous.
But it's entertaining.
Right?
And these guys are some of the most popular people on YouTube.
Which I'm kind of glad about in today's world.
With all the crazy stuff that's out there.
So, I'm a fan of Dude Perfect.
My kids are followers.
There's a difference there.
Right?
Here's the question.
I used that particular example.
We could use anything.
We could go to football.
I don't want to get into football right now.
Because, you know, there's the Texas OU game that happened yesterday.
And, you know, I'm a Texas fan.
And we had a good time.
Anyway, I want to have class in victory.
So, anyway.
Man, when we're talking about football for a minute.
Now, I was raised in Texas.
But I have not met people so devoted to high school football until I came up here.
I mean, I met guys that will travel to the Metroplex to watch teams play that they're not even connected to.
And I'm like, wow.
Those guys are followers of Texas high school football.
That's amazing.
There's a difference between a fan and a follower.
My question for you is, are you a fan of Jesus or are you a follower of Jesus?
Let me take another turn for a moment.
Let's go back to the passage that we read just a moment ago.
Look back at your text for a moment, would you?
Luke chapter 9 and verse 23.
Then he said to them all,
If anyone wants to follow after me,
let him deny himself,
take up his cross daily,
and follow me.
Jesus never asked for fans.
I don't think Jesus wants fans.
I don't think he's interested in fans.
But do you think there's a lot of fans of Jesus in the world today?
Do you think...
Whoa.
Apologies, y'all.
Do you think that the majority of people
who would identify as Christians in the world today
are more fans or followers?
Y'all talk back to me.
I would agree with you.
I think that's absolutely true.
I read a book a long time ago,
many, many years ago now,
that kind of struck a difference between these two things,
fans and followers.
And that stuck with me all these years later.
And every time I read this passage,
Luke 9, 23,
I'm reminded of the difference
in being a fan and being a follower.
In my study for this sermon,
I came across the following paragraph,
and I'd love to share it with you now.
The ancient Jews had a saying
that captures this idea of discipleship and transformation.
Y'all stick with me through this.
This is gonna be really, really cool
and something that I really doubt you've ever heard before.
I know I hadn't heard it before.
The ancient Jews said that if you find a good rabbi,
you know what a rabbi is?
The teacher,
kind of the great pastor leader for the ancient Jews.
If you find a good rabbi,
you should cover yourself in the dust of his feet
and drink in his words thirstily.
The expression probably draws on a well-known site
for ancient Jews.
Disciples were known for walking behind their rabbi,
following him so closely
that they would become covered with the dust
kicked up from his sandals.
This would have been a powerful image
for what should happen
in the disciples' life spiritually.
Disciples were expected to follow the rabbi
so closely
that they would be covered
with their master's whole way
of thinking, living, and acting.
Thousands of years later,
you and I are called to do the same.
Though you and I might travel more often
on paved roads instead of dusty ones,
although out here we have some dusty roads,
don't we?
We are still called to be disciples,
to follow our rabbi,
Jesus Christ,
so closely
that we are covered
by the dust of his life.
This is exactly the kind of disciple
that Jesus is looking for.
He calls us to imitate him.
When I read that paragraph,
that impacted me so powerfully.
And I found this,
and I wanted to share it with you.
This was a first century Jewish blessing.
May you be covered
in the dust of your rabbi.
Y'all,
that is what
I want our church to look like.
Forget what I want.
That is what God
wants our church to look like.
That we would be covered
in the dust
of Jesus' feet.
That we would walk
so closely behind him,
following in his footsteps,
that you and I
would be covered
in the dust
of his feet.
So my question to you is,
how dusty are you?
How dusty are you?
How dusty am I?
How dusty
are we?
Church,
the truth is,
we're all dusty.
We're all covered
in the dust
of whomever
or whatever
we have been following.
We've all been following something.
We've all been following someone.
So whose dust is on you?
Is it the Lord's?
Or something else?
We all have a rabbi.
We all have something
that we follow.
Something that we listen to.
A voice
that we give honor to.
A voice that we heed.
A person that we listen to.
A passion
that we prioritize.
We all have something
that we follow.
Whose dust
is on you.
May you be covered
in the dust
of your rabbi.
So what does it look like
to follow
our rabbi?
The Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, I believe
it looks like
serving him
and going
wherever he goes.
I think that's
what the disciples did.
I think that's
what our Lord
wants us to do.
We serve him
and we follow him
wherever he goes.
Let's look at
John chapter 10
and verse 27.
My sheep
listen to my voice.
I know them
and they follow me.
Jesus wants us
to follow him
wherever he goes.
He calls us sheep
and we know
that sheep are ignorant.
And I don't think
God wants to demean us
but he wants us
to remember
who we are
and who he is.
That we are
in desperate need
of him.
We are helpless
without him.
And we must lean
on him
and look to him
for help.
And so we follow him
wherever he goes.
And we must listen
to the words
and learn
to depend on them
and crave his teaching.
Because otherwise
we tend to think
that we can get
through this life
just fine
without it.
My sheep
listen to my voice
and they follow me.
And then John 12, 26.
Anyone who wants
to serve me
serve me
must follow me
because my servant
must be
where I am.
Sounds like
we got to get dusty.
We got to stick
pretty close to him.
The father will honor
anyone
who serves me.
We've got to stick
close
to our rabbi.
So
what does it look like
to follow
our rabbi?
Well
it looks like
being an acolyte
instead of a stylite.
We're going way back
to the beginning here
okay?
I got to remind you
what was a stylite?
Well a stylite
way back in week one
three weeks ago
that was an extreme
example of self-denial.
Remember the guy
who would erect
a pillar
and he would sit
on top of it
and he would
shut himself off
from society
and he would stay there
for weeks,
months,
or even years.
Guy sat there
on top of his pillar
for 30 years
and eventually died
because that's what
he thought God
wanted him to do.
That certainly
wasn't what God
wanted him to do.
Well
that of course
is not
what God
calls us to do.
That has no part
of God's mission
on this earth
as according
to scripture
and what's revealed
to us in the word
of God.
So instead
of doing that
how about
being an acolyte?
What is an acolyte?
An acolyte
is one
who attends
or assists
a leader.
I just thought
the comparison
of these two words
was kind of cool.
Okay?
Since we introduced
you to the word
stylite,
well let's compare
it to this.
And why did we
choose this word
acolyte?
Because we get
the word acolyte
from the Greek
word akalutheo.
Why are we
getting into
the Greek word
akalutheo?
Do you know
why?
Because we
just read
Luke 9
23 a minute
ago and the
final words
of Luke
9
23
were
do you remember
two words?
What was it?
Follow me.
Do you know
what that Greek
word is there?
It's one word
follow me.
Akalutheo.
From that we
get this word
acolyte which
means one who
attends or
assists a
leader.
It can also
mean to
become a
disciple.
So I challenge
you don't be
a stylite.
Don't be
someone who
shuts yourself
off from
everybody else.
says that's
just who I
am.
Don't be
someone who
puts yourself
up on a
pillar and
raises yourself
up above
everybody else.
Says I'm
too good for
everybody.
Be one who
walks in the
feet of
Jesus.
Be one who
gets covered
in the dust
of Jesus'
feet from
following so
closely.
Be one who
walks so closely
you're there
to serve
Jesus.
You're there
to learn
from his
teaching.
You're there
to hang on
his every
word.
I'm thinking
of the
difference in
Mary and
Martha,
right?
Martha was
just there
to impress
Jesus.
She was there
to make sure
everything was
in order.
Mary was
just there
to hang on
the teaching
of her
rabbi.
she was
there to
sit at
his feet
and soak
up every
word she
could.
She was
his disciple.
So,
Deuteronomy
chapter 13
and verse 4,
it is the
Lord your
God you
must follow
and him
you must
revere.
Keep his
commands and
obey him.
Serve him
and hold
fast to
him.
Serve him
and hold
fast to
him.
So,
where is
Jesus
leading?
Before we
get there,
I want to
share this
quote with
you.
The victorious
Christian
neither exalts
nor downgrades
himself.
This was
J.C.
Ryle,
a great
Christian
author.
He says,
the victorious
Christian
neither exalts
nor downgrades
himself.
His interests
have shifted
from self
to Christ.
There's your
difference
between a
stylite and
an acolyte.
There's your
difference between
someone who
exalts
themselves
or someone
who even
beats
themselves
down all
the time.
Someone
whose problem
is seemingly
pride and
self-exaltation
or someone
whose problem
is seemingly
depression
and always
down on
themselves.
Neither
one is what
Christ wants.
what Christ
wants is the
attention not
on you.
What Christ
wants is the
attention on
his will
for you
because he
knows that
that is what
will be best
for you.
That is what
will get you
onto the path
that he designed
for you
and he is
your designer.
He is your
creator.
He is who
knows what
is going to
be best
for you.
So when
your interests
shift from
ourself to
Christ
we've hit
our sweet
spot.
Right?
We've hit
what we were
made to be.
That's why
we can be
then a
victorious
Christian.
So,
secondly,
where is
Jesus leading?
Matthew 4
19 tells us
where Jesus
is leading.
He says,
follow me
and I will
make you
fishers of
men.
Luke 19
10 shed
some light
on it.
The son
of man
came to
seek and
to save
the lost.
John 10
10 says,
Jesus came
that they
may have
life and
have it
abundantly.
Luke 15
7 says
that there
is more
joy in
heaven over
one lost
sinner who
repents and
returns to
God than
over 99
others who
are righteous
and have it
straight away.
Jesus is
leading us
to the
lost.
Jesus is
leading us
to those
who are
without him.
Fact is,
let me share
this with you.
If you're
following Jesus
and he isn't
leading you
to people
without him,
then it isn't
Jesus you're
following.
Can we look
at that again?
If you think
you're following
Jesus and he
isn't leading
you to people
without him,
then it's not
really Jesus
you're following.
how many
years has
it been
since you
had an
opportunity
to share
Jesus
with somebody
who needed
to hear
about him?
And how
much longer
has it been
since you
took that
opportunity?
I'm not
trying to
shame you,
I'm not
trying to
guilt trip
you.
Jesus
doesn't
do that.
Just
trying to
remind you
of what
our mission
is.
Trying to
remind you
of what
Jesus'
priority
is.
Trying to
remind you
of what
Jesus'
heartbeat
is.
Of why
he's got
us here.
Of where
he's leading
us.
If we
want to
follow
Jesus,
that means
we're
walking
where he's
walking.
What's
his
destination?
His
destination
is to
go to
more people
like you
and me.
because
somebody
came to
us at
some point
and shared
the gospel
with us.
Maybe he
did it to
your parents,
maybe your
grandparents,
maybe an
aunt or
an uncle.
Somebody in
your family
tree was
reached by
the saving
power of
Jesus.
Maybe it
was you.
And because
of that,
you're sitting
where you
are today.
Because of
that,
you got
baptized,
maybe in
those waters.
Because of
that,
maybe life
change
happened.
Maybe you
got set
on a
new road.
Maybe
transformation
happened.
Maybe you
got saved
from certain
death.
And
Mabod wants
to use
you to
do that
for somebody
else.
And that's
why he
called you
to follow
him.
How dusty
are you?
How close
are you
following?
How closely
are you
walking
behind him?
If you're
not walking
closely,
you may
not see
where he's
walking.
You may
not end
up at the
same
location.
You might
miss
where he's
leading you.
And then
that leads
us into
the final
thought.
Romans
chapter 10
and verse
15.
How beautiful
are the feet
of those
who bring
good news.
how beautiful
are the feet
of those
who bring
good news.
Y'all,
we cannot
go through
a series
on being
a disciple
without
finishing
here.
This is
what Jesus
has called
his disciples
to do,
is bring
the good
news of
salvation
to those
who need
to hear
it.
So,
we must
have beautiful,
dusty feet.
These are
the feet
I'm talking
about.
beautiful,
dusty feet.
Okay?
I'm not
talking about
going and
getting a
pedicure.
I'm not
talking about
putting nice
socks and
fancy shoes
on.
I'm not
talking about
physical feet
at all.
I'm talking
about feet
shod with
the preparation
of the
gospel of
peace.
As we
talk about
the armor
of God
in Ephesians
earlier in
the start
of this
year,
I'm talking
about feet
that carry
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ.
Those are
the feet
that Jesus
says are
beautiful.
And if
you walk
closely to
Jesus,
then your
feet will
get dusty
as he leads
you to
people who
need to
hear the
gospel of
Jesus.
The saving
message of
Jesus Christ
that a long
time ago
on a hill
far away,
Jesus
willingly laid
down his
life for
you and
for me.
Because once
you and I
were lost
and we had
no hope.
of saving
ourselves.
But Jesus
in his
kindness
laid down
his life
willingly
and said,
I will be
the sacrifice.
I will pay
the penalty
so that you
can be saved.
You can be
forgiven.
And as many
of us
in this room
have said,
Jesus,
I believe.
I believe that
you are the
Son of God.
I have faith
that you
not only
love me,
that you
are not
only willing,
but that you
are able
to forgive
me,
cleanse me,
make me
your child,
that we
are now
saved,
signed,
sealed,
and someday
will be
delivered
to heaven
to be
forever
with our
Lord.
God,
we have
that,
but so
many don't.
So that's
why he
wants us
to get
dusty.
It's not
all about
us being
a disciple.
It's not
at all
about us.
God
loves us
so much.
He loves
us so
dearly.
He treasures
us.
He looks
forward to
a joyous
reunion in
heaven someday
when all
the family,
all the
children are
gathered
home.
So why
would he
wait?
Why would
he delay
that?
Why don't
we just
all go
and get
it started
now?
Because not
all the
sheep are
yet in
the fold.
So it's
our job
to carry
the good
news.
It's our
job to
get our
feet dusty
and beautiful.
So
every week
we've said
this,
the Jesus
way is
always a
way of
transformation.
Becoming
a disciple
will change
you.
I can
promise you
that from
personal
testimony.
I know
many of
you would
agree.
Walking the
Jesus way
will change
you.
It will
transform
you.
If it
hasn't,
or if it
hasn't in a
long time,
then you
might need
to look
back and
see where
you strayed
from the
Jesus way.
Because you
haven't changed
in a while.
So here's
our takeaway.
How dusty
am I
from actually
following Jesus?
From listening
to His
voice?
From sharing
in His
work?
Not just
talking about
His work.
Not just
criticizing His
work.
But actually
sharing in
His work.
Actually doing
His work.
Somebody came
to the great
evangelist D.L.
Moody so
many years
ago.
Some of
you maybe
heard this
story.
They said,
you know,
I don't like
how you do
evangelism.
I don't like
how you tell
other people
about Jesus.
And he said,
you know,
I don't like
it either.
But I like
my way of
doing it a
whole lot
better than
I like
your way
of not
doing it.
And I
think God's
probably good
with that.
You know,
we don't have
to be perfect
at it.
We just
got to stick
our ugly
mugs out
there and
do it,
right?
Would you
share in
the work?
Would you
do it?
Would you
get on
board?
Can we
be disciples
together?
Can we
walk
closely?
Can we
get dusty
together?
Can we
all get
covered in
the dust
of Jesus'
feet
together?
We'll see
more of that
happening.
We'll see
more of these
pews filled.
We'll see
more decisions
for Jesus
happening.
God promises
it.
Let's pray
together.
God,
we just want
to be your
disciples.
We don't
have it all
figured out.
We're going
to make
mistakes.
We're going
to mess
up.
We're not
going to do
everything
right.
But we
want to get
covered in
your dust.
We want to
keep learning
from you.
This is a
lifelong walk.
This is a
lifelong journey.
We want to
keep growing.
We want to
keep changing.
We want to
keep transforming.
We don't
want to stay
the same year
after year
after year.
If we do,
then God,
just take us
on home to
heaven.
We've ceased
to be useful
to you here.
But instead
of doing that,
change us.
Soften our
hearts again.
Some of the
most encouraging
things I've
ever seen
in my life
is when
older saints
serve,
beyond what
you would
think their
stage of
life would
call for.
And we
see that
happen in
our church.
That's so
encouraging to
me.
Sometimes I
don't know
where they
get the
energy.
Well, I
do know
it comes
from you.
It's an
inspiration to
me.
Soldier up
and just
keep going.
They don't
want to be
useless to
you anymore.
Their
time's not
over.
God, I
ask that
every single
man, woman,
and child in
this church
would get
covered in
your dust
from walking
so closely
to you.
when we
stray, get
us back.
Help us to
hang on your
words, listen
closely to you.
Challenge each
other.
Hey, are you
still getting
dusty?
Convict us,
God.
show us
where we've
strayed.
Move
powerfully in
our church.
Make us a
church of
disciples of
Jesus' followers
and we'll give
you the glory
for it.
In Jesus'
name, amen.
Amen.